Method and apparatus for cutting bodies having a non-circular cross section

ABSTRACT

Bodies with non-circular cross-sections are cut using a tool, by applying a torsional cutting process.

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Ser. No. 08/508,255 filed Jul. 27, 1995.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention concerns a procedure for cutting bodies having a non-circular cross section; a tool for cutting such bodies; and the cut body so produced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] For cutting osteosynthetic plates in surgery, a cutting procedure using a cutting tool such as a shears or a cutting pliers is primarily used. Such a tool is known, for example, from DE-C1 43 08 319. Considerable force must be applied to cut through the osteosynthetic plates. In particular, the force applied by cutting pliers such as that referred to is very great, and the cut edges of the bone plates are deformed, or end up with a seam.

[0004] The present invention is intended to provide a procedure and a tool for cutting osteosynthetic plates without excessive force while insuring a clean, non-deformed cut edge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In accordance with the invention, the problem referred to is solved by cutting the plate or other body using torsion applied by means of a tool having an upper shearing part and a lower shearing part, each having a cutting edge in direct contact with one another and having means for rotating said parts about an axis coincidental with the axis of the body to be cut.

[0006] The bodies to be cut can have any non-circular cross section, e.g. a cylindrical or prismatic cross section. In the following description, the procedure will be set forth using osteosynthetic plates with an approximately rectangular cross section. However, it will he understood that the invention may be used with other cross sections. Preferably, plates to which the invention is applied will have transverse division lines or indentations along their longitudinal axes into which the cutting tool can be placed.

[0007] A tool according to the invention comprises upper and lower shearing elements, each having a cutting edge, the cutting edge of each shearing element directly touching the cutting edge of the other. The tool is closely applied to the longitudinal surfaces of the plate to be cut, and the plate is cut by turning the two shearing elements relative to one another.

[0008] The invention possesses a considerable advantage in that the bodies can be easily cut with markedly less applied force, and that no deformation takes place outside the cut location. In addition, the cutting procedure can be carried out in a short time with a very simple device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The invention will be further described in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0010]FIG. 1a is a perspective view of an osteosynthetic plate with a tool according to the invention schematically represented to illustrate the principle of the invention.

[0011]FIG. 1b is a schematic, perspective view showing the torsional motion of FIG. 1.

[0012]FIG. 1c is a schematic perspective view of the tool of FIGS. 1a and 1 b, showing the osteosynthetic plate with its cut upper part lifted off.

[0013]FIG. 2a is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, including two round discs each having a slit and a lever arm.

[0014]FIG. 2b is a schematic view of an osteosynthetic plate with the tool of FIG. 2a attached.

[0015]FIG. 2c is a schematic view of an osteosynthetic plate with the tool of FIG. 2a attached, illustrating the cutting procedure.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of the invention using two forceps.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention including a tool with a holder and a disc with a cutting slot.

[0018]FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view, partly broken away, of the tool of FIG. 4.

[0019]FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of yet a further embodiment of the invention having cylindrical shearing parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] In the schematic representation of FIGS. 1a-1 c, each of the upper part 1 and the lower part 2 of a tool according to the invention is shown as two rectangular blocks 1′, 1″, 2′ and 2″. Each block 1′, 1″, 2′, 2″ is bevelled to form a sharp cutting edge 6. As shown in FIG. 1a, the cutting edges of the blocks in the upper part 1 touch directly the cutting edges of the lower part 2. These cutting edges are brought as closely as possible to the area 7 of the plate 3 to be cut. Preferably, the plate 3 has grooves or division lines 9 to which the cutting edges of the tool may be applied.

[0021] The plate 3 is shown as a bone plate useful in osteosynthesis, rectangular in cross section and having holes or recesses 10 for bone screws.

[0022] In accordance with the invention, to cut the plate 3, one (or both) of the blocks 1 and 2 are rotated relative to one another by more than 15° about the longitudinal axis 4 of the plate or other object to be cut, which is generally perpendicular to the plane of rotation 8 of the shearing device. This is illustrated in FIG. 1b where the upper block 1 has been rotated 900 relative to block 2 severing the upper part of plate 3. In FIG. 1c, the upper part is shown being detached from the remainder of the plate.

[0023]FIGS. 2a-2 c show a specific form of the invention in which the shearing elements are circular discs. Referring to FIG. 2a, 1 a and 2 a depict the upper and lower shearing elements which have a disc-shaped form 16. The cutting edges 6 a consist of a slot 12 that tapers down or narrow in the direction of the center of the elements 1 a and 2 a. For exerting torsional force, lever arms 11 are attached to the elements 1 a and 2 a.

[0024] In FIG. 2b, plate 3 a is inserted in slot 12 (which has a cutting edge 6 a) of the lower shearing element 2 a. The longitudinal axis 4 a of the plate 3 a again is approximately perpendicular to turning plane 8 a.

[0025] In FIG. 2c, shearing elements 1 a, 2 a are positioned surface-to-surface with each other. Counterclockwise turning of the lever arms 11 of element 2 a, with element 1 a held fast or turned clockwise results in torsional cutting according to the invention.

[0026] In another embodiment of the invention, the cutting elements are the blades of two pair of cutting forceps. Referring to FIG. 3, the forceps 13, 14 grip with their cutting edges 6 b into the dividing lines (not shown) of plate 3 b, with the cutting edges 6 b again to be brought into direct contact with each other on the longitudinal surfaces of plate 3 b. Counterturning motion of the tensioned forceps 13, 14 leads to the desired torsion separation. A mechanical holding device 22 on the manual grip prevents the forceps from opening during the turning.

[0027] The tool shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 comprises a clamping mechanism 30 and a cutting unit 16 which is of the same general nature as that shown in FIGS. 2a-2 c. As shown, the cutting unit 16 is inserted into a space 31 between a U-shaped entrance frame 17 and the casing 15 of clamping mechanism 30. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plate 3 c to be cut is inserted through the U-shaped frame 17 through the aperture in cutting unit 16 and then into the clamping unit 30 through aperture 32.

[0028] The clamping mechanism according to FIGS. 4 and 5 includes a sliding assembly 22 a and a clamping unit 18. The sliding assembly 22 a comprises a slide 22 b and an orthogonally oriented cylindrical rod 22 c. The clamping unit 18 comprises a cylindrical sleeve 18 b, a square clamp shoe 18 a and bolts 18 c. Bolts 18 c, only one of which is shown, extend from each side of shoe 18 a and ride in curved slots 23 in the interior wall of casing 15.

[0029] The sliding assembly 22 a and clamping unit 18 are positively connected to each other. This is accomplished through a rod 22 c which is telescopically seated in a sleeve 18 b which in turn is attached to clamp shoe 18 a. Rod 22 c is seated in a socket in slide 22 b and rides in a slot 24 in the upper surface of casing 15. When the sliding unit 22 a has reached the right end of slot 24 the clamping unit 18 is forced to run up the curved slot 23 and releases the plate 3 c. When the sliding unit 22 a reaches the left end 25 of slot 24, the rod 22 c is fully drawn out of shoe 18 b and secures the plate 3 c against longitudinal translation.

[0030] In FIG. 5 the clamping mechanism is shown in the closed state. If sliding assembly 22 a is drawn backwards, clamping mechanism 18 runs up on the clamping curve 23 because it is positively connected to the sliding unit 22 a . The rod 22 c is then driven into the shoe 18 b telescopically. A slight torsion cannot be prevented, but this is not deleterious for cutting quality because the true cut occurs at the edges of the plate insertion hole 25 and is performed by the plate cutting unit 16 and the thrust-bearing casing 15 which is placed on a flat surface.

[0031] Still a further embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 6, a first shearing element 19 and a second shearing element 20, are each provided with a manual grip 21. A plate 3 d is clamped by closing a tension mechanism or clamping device 18 a by turning motion of the first shearing element 19. This occurs because clamping shoe 18 d is connected by means of a pin 26 with the front shearing element 19 which in turn is rotatively positioned on the handles 21. If element 19 is torsioned relative to handles 21, the pin 26 follows an eccentric curve 27 which is cut into the clamping shoe 18 d and clamps the plate 3 d after a certain relative torsion. The second shearing element 20 has a similar clamping device (not shown) and is positioned to adjoin the first shearing element 19. Likewise, by means of a turning motion, second shearing element 20 is clamped to the plate 3 d. Then, by a counter torsional rotation of manual grips 21, plate 3 is separated.

[0032] During the turning motion, it would be advantageous to make provision, using a device configured in any manner (not shown in the drawings), so that the shearing elements would not be able to move away from each other. Also, use of such a device will allow the torque required for separating the body to be transmitted further via manual or mechanical drives to the shearing elements. In principle, it is possible that one or both shearing elements could be a component of such a device. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Process for cutting a cylindrical or prismatic body having a non-circular cross-section which comprises applying torsional cutting force to said body.
 2. The process claimed in claim 1 wherein the body is an orthopaedic plate.
 3. The process claimed in claim 1 wherein the body has grooves in its surface aid cutting tool is inserted into a groove to develop the torsional cutting force.
 4. Process for cut a body having a non-circular cross-section which comprises fixing a first sharp cutting element on a surface of the body, fixing a second sharp cutting element on said surface in direct contact with the first cutting element and rotating said elements in opposite direction relative to one another whereby the body is severed by a torsional cutting process.
 5. The process claimed in claim 3 wherein the body has a longitudinal axis and the cutting elements are rotated about said axis.
 6. A tool for cutting a body having a non-circular cross-section comprising an upper shearing element and a lower shearing element, each o said shearing elements, having cutting edges, said edges direct touching one another and said tool further comprising means for rotating said elements counter to one another.
 7. The tool claimed in claim 6 wherein the shearing elements each comprises a disc having a slot with a cutting edge extending from the outer periphery of the disc toward the center and narrowing he center and a handle attached to each of said discs.
 8. The tool claimed in claim 6 wherein each shearing element comprises a forceps having jaws with cutting edges.
 9. A tool for cutting a body having a non-circular cross-section comprising a holder, having a front surface, a guide ring attached to said holder and spaced from said front surface and a clamping device in said front surface to receive the body to be cut, in combination with a disc having a handle and a cutting slot extending from its periphery toward its center, said disc being dimensioned to fit between said guide ring and said front surface and to engaged a body held in said clamping device, counter rotation of said older and said disc causing cutting of said body.
 10. A tool for cutting a bad having a non-circular cross-section comprising a first holder having a front face, a second holder having a front face, clamping means having cutting edges in the front face of each of said holders, said holders being positionable with their front faces in contact, and hand grips on said holders whereby said holders can be rotated in opposite directions to cut a body in said clamping means.
 11. A body a non-circular cross-section manufactured by the process of claim
 1. 